Today, I was shooting my Detective Special and the rotation of the cylinder got hung up a little during rotation. Figured it to be burned powder binding in between cone and cylinder. Later it did it again. This time I could see the problem. I am doing it constantly right now with snap caps. The latch, when I rest my thumb on it rocks and exposes it's lower corner to the rotation of the cylinder causing the rim of cartridges to hang up on it. I wiggled it, it seems to only move backward not forward when wiggling. What can I do? I checked Jerry Kuhnhausen's book and troubleshooting guide and it doesn't cover this. Idea's. Anything I can do to fix it apart from sending it out?
Colt cylinder latch loose on Detective Special
- Thread starter Doug.38PR
- Start date
That latch rides in cuts in the sideplate and tightening it up is a bit tricky. If you know how to remove the sideplate, you can remove the latch and CAREFULLY peen the inside where it rests on the sideplate. You want to tighten it up, but if you aren't careful you can make it so you need to file it to get it to fit, and doing that a few times will ruin it.
One obvious solution is to refrain from resting your thumb on the latch.
Jim
One obvious solution is to refrain from resting your thumb on the latch.
Jim
shucks, I can't get the sideplate off. Colt had the gun about 3 months ago for some adjustments and the screws are on there so tight I can't unscrew them. I tried unscrewing one and stripped the screw a little and then stopped before I did anymore harm. The screwdriver looks like it fits okay, but they are just so tight.
Having the thumb extended forward (touching the latch in this gun's case) slightly gives the gun balance in the hand as your shooting it.
It's not a disaster for the gun, but I'd sure hate to be in a gunfight and have a little hang in the trigger pull to throw my shot off. It is rare, but it happened twice at the range out of 100 shots.
But I am sure not going to take a file anywhere near any of my guns.
Having the thumb extended forward (touching the latch in this gun's case) slightly gives the gun balance in the hand as your shooting it.
It's not a disaster for the gun, but I'd sure hate to be in a gunfight and have a little hang in the trigger pull to throw my shot off. It is rare, but it happened twice at the range out of 100 shots.
But I am sure not going to take a file anywhere near any of my guns.
I'm going to do just that. NOW, let me ask a question so both me and Colt can be sure of no misunderstanding (because once you get it to them, there is no communicating with their gunsmiths, hence you will only know the results when you get it back to you):
I do want this latch checked. I would also, while they have the gun (again), like them to take out that tight grab in the stacking. Where you pull the trigger and there is a tight grab of resistance right before the hammer falls. In what words should I used to tell them to take that out? I want an action job? Check stacking? What. I tried to tell them before and I think they called it Check Stacking. Whatever they did, they didn't change the stacking in the least. Finally after sending it back a second time I gave up and learned to live with it. Now that they are getting it back for something else, I would like to see if I can communicate to them how to get that stacking out. What language should I use in my letter?
Thank you
I do want this latch checked. I would also, while they have the gun (again), like them to take out that tight grab in the stacking. Where you pull the trigger and there is a tight grab of resistance right before the hammer falls. In what words should I used to tell them to take that out? I want an action job? Check stacking? What. I tried to tell them before and I think they called it Check Stacking. Whatever they did, they didn't change the stacking in the least. Finally after sending it back a second time I gave up and learned to live with it. Now that they are getting it back for something else, I would like to see if I can communicate to them how to get that stacking out. What language should I use in my letter?
Thank you
That stacking is pretty much built into the Colt design, so I doubt they can do much about it. It is one of the reasons DA shooters went to S&W, which uses a trigger/hammer interface designed to eliminate stacking.
If you want them to look at it, just tell them, in writing, that you want the stacking eliminated or reduced. I don't think they will or can eliminate it but they might be able to reduce it.
Jim
If you want them to look at it, just tell them, in writing, that you want the stacking eliminated or reduced. I don't think they will or can eliminate it but they might be able to reduce it.
Jim
Dfariswheel
New member
I'm not sure Colt will reduce stacking anymore.
They no longer offer their Match-grade trigger job due to customers not listening when Colt told them the Python would NOT be guaranteed to be reliable with Magnum ammo.
Pittsburgh never did custom action work.
Most of the Master Colt action tuners are dead or retired.
Cylinder & Slide still did no-stack work last I heard.
They no longer offer their Match-grade trigger job due to customers not listening when Colt told them the Python would NOT be guaranteed to be reliable with Magnum ammo.
Pittsburgh never did custom action work.
Most of the Master Colt action tuners are dead or retired.
Cylinder & Slide still did no-stack work last I heard.
Ausserordeutlich
Moderator
If you get in a gunfight, you're starting off with one hand tied behind your back. 
(Get something with 10+rounds.)
(Get something with 10+rounds.)